Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcanapt’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcanapt’, characterized by its light orange and red bicolored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcanapt’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcanapt’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during October 2005. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration,medium green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous,mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is MILLION BELLS Crackling Fire‘Sunbelfire’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,684, characterized by its yellowand red bicolored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and mounded andoutward spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the newcultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selectiondesignated 2170-7-1, not patented, characterized by its mediumsalmon-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discoveredand selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during June 2006 in a controlled environment atElburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJune 2006 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcanapt’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Light orange and red bicolored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarilyin flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is MiniFamous Apricot Red Eye‘KLECA06120’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,476. However, in side by sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘KLECA06120’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are smaller, as measured by plant        width, than plants of ‘KLECA06120’. In a comparison trial,        plants of ‘KLECA06120’ had an average plant width of 42.9 cm        compared with an average plant width of 31.6 cm for plants of        ‘Balcanapt’.    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller flowers, as measured        by corolla diameter, than plants of ‘KLECA06120’. In a        comparison trial, plants of ‘KLECA06120’ had an average corolla        diameter of 3.4 cm compared with an average corolla diameter of        3.2 cm for plants of ‘Balcanapt’.    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        slightly different from plants of ‘KLECA06120’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcanapt’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 5 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcanapt’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcanapt’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in May 2009 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 5 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70°F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F.to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcanapt.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—MILLION BELLS Crackling Fire ‘Sunbelfire’,            U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,684.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding            selection designated 2170-7-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 10.4 cm. Width: Approximately 31.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 20.6 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem:            144B. Color of mature stem: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 18. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature            leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately            glandular pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely            glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B with venation            of 144D to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of            young foliage: 138A with venation of 138D to            indistinguishable. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            137A with venation of 144D to indistinguishable. Color of            lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with venation of 138D            to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.6 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcanapt’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 5.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 22D and tube            portion of 151C, venation of N186A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse. Length from tube:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately            5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular            pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: 22A            with throat opening and venation of N34A. Color of lower            surface when first open: 22B with midviens of N34A. Color of            upper surface when fully open: Between 22A and 22B with            throat opening and venation of N34A. Color of lower surface            when fully open: 22C with midviens of N34A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13B with            venation of N34A. Color of outer surface: 151D with venation            of N186A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower third.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of lower            surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color            of lower surface: 138A with base of 144C.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament            color: 151D with a small stripe of N186A. Anther shape:            Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color:            8A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8B. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1 mm.            Stigma color: 144A. Style length: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Style color: N144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Ovary color: N144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcanapt’,substantially as herein shown and described.